Editor:

It has come to our attention that the Hampton Elementary School Board of Education has lacked statutorily required minority representation since January, 2018, when Rose Bisson unceremoniously became a member of the Democratic Town Committee.  Bisson failed to inform the Republican Town Committee, the political party that endorsed and financially supported her candidacy, only contacting us in June when it became legally necessary to fill a vacancy on the board with a Republican.

The RTC submitted the names of the two candidates who had actually run for the position in recent elections and garnered the support of voters; but the Board of Education chose someone who expressed interest in the position to neither the RTC nor to the electorate. The appointment was made during a special meeting scheduled without ascertaining the availability of the Republican members of the school board; thus the Democrats on the Board of Education selected the Republican they alone wanted.

Additionally, though it is their norm to hold an audience for citizens at the start of every meeting, the school board omitted that opportunity this time, so no members of the RTC, or the Republican party, or any of the hundreds of citizens who cast votes for the actual candidates were allowed to advocate for the person they preferred to represent them.

It’s time for the Board of Education to adopt policies for filling vacancies that are consistent and respectful of voters.  And it’s time for the Town to adopt an ordinance that protects the views of all citizens by requiring that a quorum of boards and commissions include minority representation.

The Republican Town Committee